Location
9735 Landmark Parkway Dr.
Suite #16 St. Louis, MO 63127
Call Us
(314) 270-5817
Fluoride Treatments For Kids
Dr. Kelly Jobe | Pediatric Dentist | St. Louis, MO
Fluoride treatments for kids
You’ve probably heard of fluoride – and it’s a pretty amazing substance! It is a mineral that is widely distributed in nature. And luckily, this naturally-occurring element is really, really good at building healthy teeth. That’s why dentists love it so much!
Since fluoride is a mineral, it “remineralizes” and strengthens our tooth enamel, making teeth more resistant to tooth decay and cavities. It even fights the plaque bacteria that cause cavities!
Fluoride has been proven to prevent tooth decay since the 1930s, which is why it’s usually added to tap water supplies. But, many times drinking water doesn’t have enough fluoride to do the job. The best way to prevent tooth decay is using fluoride that is painted on the teeth, as well as swallowed.
That’s why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children receive fluoride treatments 2 to 4 times a year starting at the age of 2, depending on your child’s risk of cavities. Fluoride treatments are more concentrated than what you’d find in tap water, very inexpensive and definitely worth the low cost. Kids even like the taste!
Combined with daily habits like brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, regular cleanings and a healthy diet, your child is well on their way to have healthy teeth throughout their life.
Are fluoride treatments necessary for children?
Nearly 4 million preschoolers have some form of tooth decay – It’s the most common infectious disease in children; even more common than asthma.
Tooth decay is caused when plaque bacteria interacts with the food and sugar that we eat to create acids, which tear down the enamel and create cavities. These cavities can bore down to the nerves and blood inside the tooth (the pulp), creating all kinds of problems.
Research shows that children who receive fluoride treatments are 43% less likely to get cavities. Fluoride treatments can even reverse cavities that just started forming. That’s pretty impressive for such an inexpensive treatment!
It is still important for your child to receive fluoride treatments, even on their baby teeth. Baby teeth are more prone to tooth decay than adult teeth, which means they are at a higher risk of falling out prematurely. You might think that doesn’t sound like a big deal (because baby teeth are supposed to fall out anyway), but it is!
That’s because baby teeth still serve an important role: Guiding adult teeth to where they need to go. If baby teeth fall out prematurely from tooth decay, that can cause their adult teeth to be misshapen or crooked.
Regular fluoride treatments prevent tooth decay, which save you and your child the trouble of more procedures or surgery down the road. Preventive maintenance is key!
Is fluoride safe for children?
Fluoride varnish treatments are very safe for children because fluoride:
- Is a natural mineral
- Is used in small amounts
- Hardly gets ingested in varnish form
- Allows the child to to eat and a drink just after application
It only takes a few minutes for the fluoride varnish to get painted on the child’s teeth, and then the procedure is done. The fluoride then gets brushed off after 4 to 12 hours or so.
Questions for Dr. Jobe or the Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry team?
Dr. Kelly Jobe and the team at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry are committed to providing the best pediatric dental care in the greater St. Louis, MO area! Please contact us with any questions regarding your kid’s dental health, we are here to help!
FAQs
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and makes teeth more resistant to the acids that cause cavities. When applied professionally as a varnish, it remineralizes weakened enamel and can even reverse very early-stage decay before it becomes a full cavity. At Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in St. Louis, fluoride treatments are a quick, inexpensive, and highly effective part of your child’s preventive dental care routine.
Yes, and the research backs it up. Children who receive regular fluoride treatments are significantly less likely to develop cavities than those who do not. Tooth decay is the most common infectious disease in children, more common than asthma, and it can cause real problems if left untreated, including pain, infection, and early tooth loss. A professional fluoride treatment provides a much higher concentration of protection than tap water or fluoride toothpaste alone, making it one of the most valuable preventive tools available for children’s dental health in St. Louis.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children begin receiving professional fluoride treatments starting at age two. Depending on your child’s individual cavity risk, treatments may be recommended two to four times per year. Starting early means giving your child’s teeth a stronger foundation from the very beginning, which can prevent the need for more involved procedures later on.
Yes. Baby teeth are actually more vulnerable to decay than permanent teeth, which makes fluoride treatments especially important during the early years. Beyond preventing cavities, protecting baby teeth matters because they guide permanent teeth into their correct positions. When baby teeth fall out too early due to decay, the permanent teeth coming in behind them can become crooked or misaligned. Fluoride treatments help keep baby teeth healthy and in place for as long as they are needed.
Fluoride varnish treatments are very safe for children. Fluoride is a natural mineral, it is applied in small amounts, and very little of it is ingested during a varnish application. Children can eat and drink immediately after the treatment, and the varnish is simply brushed off after four to twelve hours. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes and causes no discomfort. Kids at our St. Louis office often enjoy picking their favorite flavor for the treatment.
Tap water in many communities does contain fluoride, and drinking it does contribute to cavity prevention. However, the concentration in municipal water is generally not high enough on its own to provide full protection, especially for children at moderate to high risk of cavities. Professional fluoride treatments applied directly to the teeth deliver a much more concentrated dose right where it is needed most. Combined with fluoride toothpaste and regular dental visits, professional treatments offer the most complete layer of protection.
The fluoride treatment itself is one of the quickest and most painless parts of a dental visit. After your child’s cleaning and exam, a flavored fluoride varnish is painted directly onto the surfaces of the teeth using a small brush. The whole process takes just a few minutes. Your child will be able to eat and drink right away, and the varnish is brushed off at home after a few hours. There is nothing uncomfortable about it, and most children do not mind it at all.
Fluoride treatments are included as part of your child’s regular cleaning and exam visits at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. To get your child started or to ask any questions about preventive care, call our St. Louis office at (314) 270-5817 or book an appointment online. We are located at 9735 Landmark Parkway Dr., Suite 16, St. Louis, MO 63127 and welcome children of all ages.
Have more questions about your child’s dental health? Contact St. Louis, MO’s award-winning Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Kelly Jobe!
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Dr. Kelly Jobe & her staff are passionate about providing the best pediatric dental care in St. Louis, MO!
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Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
9735 Landmark Parkway Dr.
Suite #16 St. Louis, MO 63127 - (314) 270-5817
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